Safe tender lift

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises of a tenderlift ( 1 ) for watercraft with a high safety standard, such as the safe picking up of the tender ( 7 ) by means of guide sticks ( 9   a, b ), curved elements ( 9   c ), deadrise elements ( 10 ), tender locking ( 11 ) as well as for an easier positioning of the tender on the platform ( 8 ) with an integrated revolving plate ( 12 ) which) can be accordingly turned by coercion adjustment or by means of an operating cylinder ( 19 ). In addition the swivel arms ( 3   a , b) are concealed, so that no gap ( 3   c ) can occur and no bruising of limbs or other means can occur. When the tenderlift ( 1 ) goes down, the integrated ladder ( 25 ), lying under the platform ( 8 ), automatically extends with the stroke (H), which has release elements ( 28 ) on the pivot bearing ( 27 )

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is based on a tender lift for watercraft, which serves as a lifting platform for persons, but especially as a lift for tenders and similar enabling them to be taken up, to be parked and to be locked, according to a high safety standard, which also includes the lifting mechanism and the connecting stair, according to the generic name of the first claim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Height adjustable carrier platforms are being used more and more to collect tender boats, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,596, GB 2319014, DE 199 63 057 C1, or WO 03/106254 A1, but also for the convenient boarding and deboarding of bathing guests and divers. Besides this, height adjustable carrier platforms are also being used for commercial purposes, as for e.g. in rescue operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves that, at the transom of a watercraft, a height adjustable platform is fixed, which, at the same time, can be a swim platform and a tender platform with the aim being the controlled pick up of tenders and similar and which places these in a space-saving manner on the platform or in an adjacent garage and fixes these in a manner fit for travelling on the sea. Furthermore the mechanism is designed in such a way that the swivel arms safely avoid cutting and bruising. So as not to use the lift continually when this is in the down position, for e.g. to bring something quickly on board or to cast off, there is a simple, integrated and in case of overload releasable connecting stair available so that one can move quickly and easily from the watercraft to the platform and vice versa.

The pickup of a tender boat or jetski, here called in the abbreviated form tender, is not easy to accomplish in choppy sea as the yacht has a different rolling and pitching movement compared to the small tender. For this reason means have been provided so that the tender driver can take course to the lifting platform in a simple way and can drive onto it in a concentrated manner and will be automatically stopped at the right place, so that the driver then only has to give the order for the platform to be lifted, and while doing so, respectively time delayed, the tender brings itself into position so as to be parked in a space saving manner on the yacht deck or on the platform in the home position. The safe lifting of the tender is guaranteed by already placing it in an appropriate clasp so that the tender cannot slip off the lifting platform in heavy seas. The positioning, the securing and finally the locking of the lifting platform with the tender is executed without the help of third parties; as in this regard this is a further precautionary measure as people on the lifting platform trying to turn and rig the tender are risk factors especially on leisure craft yachts as often no professional crew is on board.

As far as the invention is concerned this is dealt with by the features of the first claim

Core of the invention is a lift, fixed to the transom of a watercraft, which serves as a bathing and tender platform and which guarantees a high safety standard with regard to reliable and space-saving picking up of a tender without the assistance of third parties, as well as having a built in safety mechanism to avoid cutting and bruising, as well as having a smart, self-unfolding ladder integrated between the watercraft's transom and the lift

Further advantageous features of the invention are listed in the subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary aspects of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein

It shows

FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a platform lift with the constructive cover of the swivel arm parallelogram

FIG. 2 a schematic front view of the swivel arms in cross-sections

FIGS. 3 a, b, c a schematic sideview of motion sequences when picking up a tender and placing it on the platform

FIG. 4 a 3D view of the revolving plate with the holding and locking elements

FIG. 5 a schematic sideview of the platform with the revolving plate and a mechanical coercion steering

FIG. 6 a schematic overhead view of the platform with the revolving plate and with a cylinder and a controller

FIG. 7 a schematic sideview of the elevated platform with a rail mean positioned on the revolving plate and with a tender

FIG. 8 a schematic sideview of an extendable and releasable connecting ladder between the transom of the watercraft and the platform.

Only essential elements of the invention are schematically shown to facilitate immediate understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sideview of a tenderlift 1, which is fixed to the transom 2 of a watercraft, with both swivel arms 3 a, 3 b, which form a parallelogram. It is known that with a parallelogram the corresponding gap sizes of both swivel arms 3 a, 3 b do change according to stroke position H1, H2 and thereby can cause bruising to third parties. Because of the constructive overlapping by a suitable profile and an accurate positioning of the swivel arms 3 a, b to each other, the gap 3 c can be therewith covered so at the same time increasing the stability of the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b. Conceivable is a covering of the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b with plastic elements, but the one part solution, namely to protect the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b from the open gap 3 c, and at the same time to increase the stability of the arms, is evidently an ideal combination. The forms of the support 4 are also designed in such a way, for e.g. roundings 4 a with large radiuses, but also by constructive inclusion and integration of the support 4 into the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b, so that also in these places foreign objects, whether it be limbs, deadwood or anchor ropes and similar getting stuck is practically eliminated. In addition the lift cylinder 5 is integrated as much as possible into the swivel arms 3 a, b and where this is not feasible, it is wrapped separately with a casing 5 a, so that the stroke movement and swiveling of the lift cylinder 5 cannot lead to injuries to third parties or malfunction of the equipment.

FIG. 2 Shows a schematic front view of the swivel arm cross-section of the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b, whereby as an example only the swivel arm 3 a has a U profile whereas the swivel arm 3 b has a closed profile, whereby with the characteristic that both of the swivel arms 3 a, 3 b drift apart no more than the measurement a at the lift stroke H, which means that the construction of the tenderlift 1 is so designed that, in the worse scenario, both of the swivel arms 3 a to swivel arms 3 b are in line to each other, in normal cases are nested in each other. As an example through the design of the sheet metal a more rigid design is recognizable which can more easily pick up technical mean 6 such as torsion tube or bearings or lift cylinder 5.

FIG. 3 Shows a schematic stem view of movement sequences when taking up a tender 7 onto the platform 8. The problematic of collecting a tender 7 on board within a reasonable time even in slight choppy sea is not easy and generally needs a second or even a third person to place the tender 7 properly. Afterwards this has to be raised and tied down fast.

FIG. 3 a Shows now how the tender 7 can be driven in between the guiding sticks 9 a, b, which not only easily and comfortably help to drive on the tender 7 but both of the front guiding sticks 9 a, corresponding to the tender's hull shape also are nearer together, so that the tender 7 can only be driven in to a predetermined place and is halted there by the narrowing of the front guiding sticks 9 a. In addition, the guiding sticks 9 a, b have an upper bracket in form of for e.g. a curved element 9 c so that this can prevent the tilting out of the tender 7. Hence the tender 7 is quickly and safely brought into position. Under the hull of the tender 7 are deadrise elements 10, which make sure that the tender 7 lies in a stable position. Through the tender locking 11, which is activated manually by means of a catch lock or by motor, it is guaranteed that the tender 7 cannot involuntarily glide out backwards out of the enclosure of the guiding sticks 9 a, b.

The guiding sticks 9 a, b and the deadrise elements 10 are fixed on a revolving plate 12, which with the tender 7 fixed onto it, can be pivoted by 90 degrees by the corresponding mean, so that the tender 7 is finally held on the transom 2 crosswise to the driving direction of the yacht.

The rotation of the tender on the revolving plate is carried out either synchronously with the lifting of the tenderlift 1, or coercion controlled or by means of a cylinder and a controller or independently from lift stroke H of the tenderlift 1 controlled by means of corresponding electronics.

FIG. 3 b Shows the lifted, already partly pivoted tender 7 over the waterline WL. The rotation is necessary as the platform 8 does not have the appropriate depth which corresponds to the length of a tender 7. Yachts, however, have enough width to also take up fairly large tenders 7 and are therefore usually fixed crosswise to the yacht.

FIG. 3 c Shows the tenderlift 1 completely driven up and the crosswise placed tender 7, which is fixed on the platform 8 in a seaworthy position by means of deadrise elements 10, guide sticks 9 a, b, curved element 9 c, tender locking 11, without the help of third parties. In principle the tender 7 can also be driven on the platform 8 sideways should the watercraft not have any design enclosure on the platform 8, this is only in heavy seas less easier to accomplish, but with the guiding sticks 9 a, b, curved element 9 c, deadrise elements 10 and tender locking 11 this form of tender pick is also possible.

FIG. 4 Shows a 3D view of the revolving plate 12 which is embedded in the platform 8, with the guiding sticks 9 a, b, the curved element 9 c, the deadrise elements 10 and the tender locking 11. The deadrise elements 10 and the guide sticks 9 a, b fixed onto it and the tender locking 11 have hinges 13, which enable these parts to sink into the opening hatch means 14 of the revolving platform 12, so that the platform 8 forms an area with the revolving plate 12 and no interfering parts rear up when a tender 7 is not on the platform. The platform can be pivoted in both directions according to arrow T.

FIG. 5 Shows a schematic sideview of the platform 8 with the revolving plate 12, which by means of a pivot bearing 15 and a bracket 16 can be pivoted easily on the platform 8 as well as being fixed with no backlash. On one of the swivel arms 3 a, b a rod 17 is rotationally mounted, which is connected to a cam 18, which again is fixed and hinged to the revolving plate 12. Thereby a simple but efficient coercion control is produced, as via the lift stroke H of the swivel arms 3 a, b, respectively of the platform 8, the rod 17 is pressed into arrow position Z and executes thereby a forced pivoting of the revolving plate 12. By means of a suitable distance of the cam 18 from the centre of the platform 8, the rotation T can be configurated in such a way that at a corresponding diving depth the tender 7 is watered and thereby the rotation T is exactly at 90 degrees or at any other required setting.

FIG. 6 Shows a schematic sideview of the platform 8 with the revolving plate 12, which by means of a pivot bearing 15 and a bracket 16 is fixed smoothly, pivotable and as well as with no backlash. On one of the pivoting arms 3 a, b an operating cylinder 19 is fixed instead of the rod 17, which based on the command of the corresponding programmed controller 20, activates the revolving plate 12 which turns according to arrow T. Thereby the tender 7 can for e.g. firstly be turned by 90 degrees before the tenderlift 1 gets lifted, or any other configuration, which is advantageous for the tender 7 and the lifting procedure.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic sideview of an elevated platform 8 with a rail mean 21 positioned on the revolving plate 12, which has respective gliding elements 22, for e.g. in the form of wheels or carriage which sit on a rail set 23. On the rail mean 21 are the guiding sticks 9 a, b with the curved element 9 c, the deadrise elements 10 and the tender locking 11. The rail mean 21 on the platform 8 can be driven in the elevated position of the tenderlift 1 according to arrow R in the direction of the transom support 2 a and the tender 7 can be driven away from tenderlift 1, so that this can be used purely as a bathing platform lift, or the tender 7 can be pushed into a garage inside the watercraft. After shifting the rail mean is locked safely in the desired position by means of the rail locking 24. The shifting of the rail mean 21 can be done manually or by motor.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic sideview of a retractable and releasable connecting ladder 25 which is hinged on the one hand to the transom 2 of the watercraft and on the other hand to the platform 8, hinged and mounted flexibly lengthways in a guide tube 26. The connecting ladder 25 when lifting up the tenderlift 1 thus comes to lie under the platform 8 like a telescopic ladder. Instead of a ladder a stairway can also be used. In addition the pivot bearing 27 of the connecting ladder 25 has release elements 28, so that should there be a buckling or jamming of foreign bodies on or in the connecting ladder 25, this is released and thus safeguarding any damage to the jammed object as well as the tenderlift 1. The release can be a clip or a power operated mean by hydraulics or pneumatic load operated mean.

Of course the invention is not only applicable on shown and described examples.

DRAWING LIST

-   1 tenderlift -   2 transom -   2 a transom support -   3 a, 3 b swivel arms -   3 c gap -   4 support -   4 a rounding -   5 lift cylinde -   5 a casing -   6 technical mean -   7 tender -   8 platform -   9 a, 9 b guiding stick -   9 c curved element -   10 deadrise element -   11 tender locking -   12 revolving plate -   13 hinge -   14 hatch mean -   15 pivot bearing -   16 bracket -   17 rod -   18 cam -   19 operating cylinder -   20 controller -   21 rail mean -   22 gliding element -   23 rail set -   24 rail locking -   25 connecting ladder -   26 guide tube -   27 pivot bearing -   28 release element -   H lift stroke -   T rotations -   a gap stroke -   R rod stroke -   Z rod 

1. Tenderlift for watercrafts characterized in that the tenderlift has a platform, which positions and holds a tender in position by means of deadrise elements, guide sticks, curved element, tender locking or/and has a revolving plate or/and interlocking swivel arms with at least a U profile or/and a connecting ladder.
 2. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that the guide sticks, deadrise elements and tender locking are fixed on the revolving plate.
 3. Tenderlift according to claim 2 characterized in that the two guide sticks stand nearer to each other than the two guide sticks.
 4. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that the tender locking is carried out by means of latch lock or manually or power operated.
 5. Tenderlift according claim 1 characterized in that hinges on the guide sticks, the deadrise elements and the tender locking allow these parts to plunge under the hatch means so that on the platform with the integrated revolving plate a smooth as possible surface is created.
 6. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that hinged rod is fixed to one of the swivel arms and cam, resulting in a coercion rotation of the revolving plate whilst the lift stroke of the tenderlift is in operation.
 7. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that instead of rod an operating cylinder comes into effect, which via a programmable controller that the revolving plate is rotated accordingly via the operating cylinder.
 8. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that the cam is placed outside the centre of the revolving plate.
 9. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that on the revolving plate, the platform or and/on the transom support a rail set is placed on which a movable rail mean with gliding elements is laid and which can be shifted manually or by power and can be locked by means of a rail locking device.
 10. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that on the rail mean guide sticks with curved element, deadrise elements and tender locking are mounted.
 11. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that the swivel arms which form a parallelogram, at least one swivel arm has a U shape, the other swivel arm lies aligned or partly nested in the other swivel arm and so that the varying gap when moving the lift stroke does not exceed the value and the U shape increases the stability of a swivel arm, as well.
 12. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that a casing or and roundings on the supports or/and lift cylinders and or overlapping the flanks of the swivel arms reduce or eliminate the cutting and bruising risks.
 13. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that on the transom there is a connecting ladder, which is connected to the platform, on the one hand by means of a pivot bearing on the transom and on the other hand by a pivot bearing on the guide tube which is fixed on the platform and that the pivot bearing is releasable by means of release elements.
 14. Tenderlift according to claim 1 characterized in that the swivel arms can be of steel or/and aluminium or and composite material. 